Chalk-holder for billiard-tables



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY M. WALL, OF NILES, MICHIGAN.

CHALK-HOLDER FOR BILLIARD-TABLES.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent N0. 51,499, dated December 12, 1865.

To all whom t may concer/n.:

Be it known that I, HENRY M. I/VALL, of Niles, in the county of Berrien and State of Michigan, have invented a new and Improved Device for Holding Chalk for Billiard-Tables and for other Purposes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a view in elevation of my improved chalk-holder, and Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section ofthe same.

Like letters designate corresponding parts in both figures.

My invention consists of a case or holder, of wood or other suitable material, provided with a socket for receiving the piece of chalk, which is secured byadevice presently to be described, and is adjusted out and in, as required, by means of a screw passing through the caseinto the clamp which holds the chalk, substantially as set forth.

In the drawings, A represents a piece of wood, forming a stock of bell form, but which may be of any other convenient or suitable shape, in the base of whichis provided a socket, B, perferably of square or other polygonal form, to receive and prevent from turning the similarly-formed piece of chalk C. This chalk ts into a clamp,f, made of tin, or other suitable material, of a form similar to that ofthe socket, the sides g of which are disconnected at the edges or corners, so as to allow them to be sprung apart for the insertion of the chalk, which they clamp, and by their hooked or curved ends h hold it firmly in place.

Through the stock A passes a screw, m, the end of which is fastened in any suitable inanner, as by a swivel, to the clamp f. By turning this screw the clamp j', and with it the chalk C is moved out, as may be required, by its becoming worn away, or for its more convenient use.

When one piece of chalk is worn out, and it is necessary to replace it, the clamp f is screwed out as far as it can be, when the remnant of the old piece is removed and a fresh piece inserted by expanding the sides g, when, on reversing the screw m, both are drawn back into the socket, the sides ofthe latter pressing the sides or springs g against the chalk, so that the ends h are-forced into the same, by which it is firmly and securely held in position.

My improvement is designed more particularly for the use of billiard-players, and may be, for that purpose, attached to the billiardtable by means of a chain, p, and screw s, but any other suitable means maybe employed. There may be as many of these holders applied to each table as may be desired or convenience require.

The form and size of the stock Aand socket B may be varied according to the purpose for which the holder is to be used. Ifforholding a crayon or pastil, it should be suitably elongated to be conveniently held in the fingers, when the adjusting-screw m will be found eX- ceedingly useful in propelling the crayon outward as the pointis worn away, while the socket prevents its being broken, and keeps the fingers from contact with it.

When used in connection with billiard-tables, a slight depression, a", in the chalk may be formed, or use will soon form one, so that by inserting the end of the cue and giving it a slight turn it becomes throughly chalked.

The disadvantages of the common method of placing the chalk in pockets at the sides of billiard-tables are that in using it' the hands become Inore or less chalked, which, coming in contact with the clothes or tables, soils and defaces them also, in using small pieces parts are frequently broken off, and fall upon the floor to be trodden on, producing dirt and disorder.

The use of myimprovement is not only more convenient, but also fully obviates these objections. The hands are not soiled, because they do not come in contact with the chalk, and consequently thev table and clothes are kept clean. There is no dropping of pieces, and therefore not that waste or defacement of the carpet, and being attached to the table it cannot be misplaced, and is always at hand when wanted.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

An improved device for holding chalk for billiard-tables and other purposes, consisting of the stockA, provided with asuitably formed socket, B, in combination with the clamp-holder j' and adjusting-screw m, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY M. WALL.

Witnesses FREDERICK O. RoGEEs, EBENEZER M. SWAINE. 

